Bolster.



W. S. ATWOOD.

BOLSTER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10,1913.

1,128,65fi Patented Jan.5,1915.

l 1 I u l I THE NORRIS PETERS CO. FHOTO-LITHQ. wAsrvmuroN n C UbllfTlElU %TAT% PATENT lFlFTQE.

WILLIAM S. ATWOOD, 0F MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO THE CANADIAN GAB & FOUNDRY COMPANY, LIMITED, 013 MONTREAL, CANADA.

BOLSTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 5, 1915.

Application filed .Tune 10, 1913. Serial No. 772,881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM S. A'rwooo, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at the city of Montreal, in the Province of Quebec and Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bolsters, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in bolster construction, and the object is to providea bolster which may be more easily and accurately constructed than heretofore with an economy of time and material.

A further object is to provide a bolster of that type comprising tension and compression members separated by a space block or strut, in which the king pin opening of the compression member will be automatically alined and held in alinement with the corresponding opening of the space block during and after assembling.

The class of bolsters to which this invention applies, (both body and truck) are composed of a stiff compression member and a tension member spaced at its center over the compression member, and looped at its ends over the ends of the compression member. The usual method of manufacture is to provide the space block with lugs which openings in the compression merrber, and are intended to aline the king pin openings of the two members and maintain this alinement during the bending of the tension member extremities around the compression member extremities. It has been found in practice that this method is not entirely satisfactory. The space block or struts used are generally malleable castings, and therefore subject to considerable warp ing, so that the lugs if they can be made to engage the openings of the compression member usually aline the king pin openings very inaccurately. Frequently, it becomes necessary to break off one or more of these lugs in order to aline the king pin openings. In addition to this, the space blocks are provided with lugs by means of which they are riveted to the compression member after the bolster is assembled. These lugs fre quently become broken by the movement of the compression member under stress, and

' an improper and unsalable bolster results.

It will be understood that these above mentioned faults are not due solely to the space block but partly to straining of the compression member and other causes. To overcome these disadvantages, I have provided a bolster comprising compression and ten sion members of the usual form, and a space block of substantially the usual form. The king pin opening in the compression member of the bolster is made slightly larger than usual, and the surface of the space block abutting such member is provided with a flange surrounding the king pin opening and adapted to engage in the enlarged opening of the compression member. This engagement maintains the necessary alinement of the parts during manufacture, and furthermore holds the space block firmly in position in the completed bolster, so that the attaching lugs are eliminated.

In the drawings which illustrate the invention:Figure 1 is a front elevation partly in section, showing both body and truck bolsters constructed according to the present invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation partly in section of a body bolster space block. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of same. Fig. 1 is a fragmentary secticnal view of a truck bolster space block. Fig. 5 is a plan view of same.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 11 designates the compression and 12 the tension member of a bolster, the tension member being looped at its ends over the ends of the compression member, as indi cated at 13, and spaced away from the compression member at the center by a space block, designated 1 1. The space block is of any suitable shape to adapt it to the particular size or strength of bolster in which it is used, and is provided with a central tubular portion 15 forming a receptacle for the king pin 16, which connects the body and truck bolsters. The part of the space block engaging the compression member is provided with a flat surfaced plate 17, which abuts the compression member. A flange 18 is formed on this plate 17 around the king pin aperture. The inner wall of this flange is preferably a continuation of the inner surface of the tubular portion 15, while the outer wall 19 of the flange is slightly sloped, so as to make the flange slightly smaller at the free end and easily insertible in the aperture 20 of the compression member.

From the foregoing description, the operation and advantages of the device will be readily seen. Owing to its size and position in the casting, the flange 18 is not liable to deformation, and being concentric with the king pin aperture, will necessarily center the same accurately in the opening of the compression member. This arrangement obviously insures accuracy of alinement and saves much time in effecting such alinement. In addition, this collar will hold the space block in proper position in the completed bolster, and therefore does away with the necessity of riveting, which in turn does away with the rivet lugs. It will thus be seen that a saving of both time and material is effected in the construction of the bolster, and a more accurate and durable article produced.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a bolster, an apertured compression member, a tension member spaced therefrom at the center, a space block holding said members apart and having a king pin aperture therein, and a flange surrounding said king pin aperture and adapted to engage in the aperture of the compression member.

2. I11 a bolster having a compression member apertured for a king pin and a tension member looped at its ends over the ends of the compression member, a space block between said members having a king pin aperture, a tapered flange surrounding the aperture of said space block adapted to engage the aperture of the compression member to aline the apertures of the compression member and space block.

3. In a bolster, an apertured compression member and a tension member secured thereto at the ends, a space block separating said members at their centers, and a circular flange on said space block engaging in the aperture of the compression member to hold the space block in position, said space block being apertured concentric with the flange for the passage of a king pin.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM S. ATWOOD.

lVitnesses:

STUART R. IV. ALLEN, G. N. MORELAND.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington. D. C. 

